Vermont’s Kaiden McCarthy selected by Braves in second round of MLB Draft
Kaiden McCarthy, a native of Chester, Vermont, made history Saturday with his selection by the Atlanta Braves in the second round, 48th overall, of the MLB Draft.
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The hard-throwing righthander became the highest high school draft pick in Vermont history, surpassing Owen Kellington, whom the Pittsburgh Pirates selected with the 102nd pick in 2021.
McCarthy, who was committed to the University of Tennessee, plans to sign with the Braves and forgo college.
“It feels amazing,” said McCarthy. “I think it kind of just shows that my hard work is starting to pay off. Obviously, I have to keep working hard and put a lot more into it. But [it shows that] even being from the small state of Vermont, the small town of Chester, you can go out and do so much more when you put your mind to it.”
Atlanta’s selection was on the higher end of McCarthy’s publicly projected draft range. MLB pipeline ranked McCarthy as its No. 61 prospect, and Baseball America had him at No. 76.
McCarthy began anticipating a possible selection once the second round began, but still felt shock upon receiving a one-word text from his agent: “Braves.”
“That text was all I saw, and then five seconds later, I look up and I see my name being called,” said McCarthy. “I just kind of got really emotional … I got up after a few seconds, kind of just sitting there and taking it in. I hugged my mom, then hugged my dad, hugged my brother. I mean, it was awesome.”
McCarthy, who is 6 feet, 190 pounds, and still 17 years old, was one of the youngest draft-eligible players after reclassifying to the class of 2026 in January.
He was dominant this spring in limited appearances for Vermont Academy in Rockingham. In just five starts and 19⅓ innings, he allowed two runs on three hits while striking out 42 batters.
McCarthy’s efforts helped Vermont Academy reach the Lake Region championship game, and he was named Vermont’s baseball Gatorade Player of the Year.
Vermont rarely produces high-end baseball talent due to its compressed season and limited opportunities to be scouted. McCarthy’s rise required both creativity and commitment, which included long-toss in cornfields and lengthy drives to seek higher levels of training and competition.
“It’s hard to play baseball here. It’s not a baseball state,” said McCarthy. “I couldn’t have done it without [my parents] giving me those opportunities where I could go and put myself out on the map from being from Vermont, and then obviously now on a bigger stage.”
McCarthy’s primary weapon is a fastball that reaches 99 miles per hour, and his four-pitch mix also includes a curveball, slider, and changeup.
There has never been a high school draftee from Vermont to make it to the big leagues, a statistic McCarthy will soon hope to change.
“It was the best experience ever to be a part of this,” said McCarthy. “And obviously, great things are ahead.”
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